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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tennessee

Tennessee

♂ Boy

Pronounced ten-uh-SEE /ˌtɛn.əˈsi/Medium

Meaning: From the place-name Tennessee — the U.S. state, named for the Cherokee village Tanasi (of uncertain meaning); a place-name; we note the placeLow

In 30 seconds: Of Tennessee; a Cherokee village name: Tennessee is a place-name. Lyrical, modern, and warm (said 'ten-uh-SEE').
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Origin LowCherokee
MeaningFrom the place-name Tennessee — the U.S. state, named for the Cherokee village Tanasi (of uncertain meaning); a place-name; we note the place
U.S. rank (2025)#7630 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births11 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 380

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719952025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Tennessee comes from the place-name Tennessee — the U.S. state, named for the Cherokee village Tanasi (of uncertain meaning; we note the place; made known by playwright Tennessee Williams). A lyrical, modern name (said 'ten-uh-SEE'; nickname Tenn).

In the U.S. it registers thinly. Rare, a-Cherokee-village-name at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Tennessee is the U.S. state, named for the Cherokee village Tanasi (of uncertain meaning) — made known by playwright Tennessee Williams — a lyrical place-name (we note the place; said 'ten-uh-SEE').
Overall data confidence 36%
References — Tennessee — place-name

Variations

TenneseeTenessee

Nicknames

Tenn

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tennessee…

Montana— a companion U.S. place-name
Memphis— a sound-neighbor place-name boys' name
Kenai— another U.S. place-name
Yona— a similarly popular pick
Amaree— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Tennessee

By themeuncertainplace-namecherokee

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tennessee mean?

Tennessee is a place-name — the U.S. state, named for the Cherokee village Tanasi (of uncertain meaning). We note the place.

How do you pronounce Tennessee?

It's said ten-uh-SEE /ˌtɛn.əˈsi/ — three syllables, stress on the third.

Is Tennessee a boy or girl name?

Tennessee is used here as a boy's name; it is also used for girls.

How popular is Tennessee?

Tennessee is a very rare name in the U.S.

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